Deutsche Bahn is facing a big problem
The start of the 9-euro ticket is just around the corner. The transport companies are expecting many more passengers in the next three months, and Deutsche Bahn is preparing for an unprecedented rush. But that comes at the wrong time, because things are not going smoothly on the track. There hadn’t been any delays in years.
Deutsche Bahn has more than 30 percent delays: it hasn’t been as bad for 7 years
It’s not easy for Deutsche Bahn at the moment. In April 2022, 69.1 percent of the ICE and IC long-distance trains were on time – which, in DB jargon, means they departed no more than 6 minutes later than planned. All others and accordingly over 30 percent had to contend with significant delays. According to DB, there has not been such a bad rate since 2015 (source: Focus).
In the cargo business, the situation is said to be particularly extreme, as board member Ralf Kloß announced to the workforce in an internal video. There the manager speaks of one “Situation that is almost indescribable” (Source: business week). The transport volumes would have to be reduced by 25 to 30 percent.
The main reason for the restrictions are construction sites. Deutsche Bahn is investing 13.6 billion euros in the rail network this year. In April, construction is said to have taken place on busy routes. The severe delays relate to long-distance traffic, the trains of which are currently not included in the 9-euro ticket. Despite it the situation in long-distance traffic should also affect local traffic.
This is what you need to know about the 9-euro ticket:
Train delays hit €9 ticket holders
On the one hand, it is not unusual for passengers to look for alternative routes in the event of particularly long delays. That could be the Continue to fill local and regional trains. Even without this plus, it will almost certainly get crowded between the beginning of June and the end of August.
But the construction work in the long-distance network will have a different impact. It is not uncommon for long-distance trains to be diverted while construction work is going on on their route. So the late IC, ICE and Co. also become a problem on other routes – and for us passengers it is then once again to persevere. It remains to be hoped that DB’s plans for the 9-euro ticket will work out.
